Where to connect the battery breakaway cable?

[devildog1]

Stainless break away cable is the way to go, no coating required. As far as the safety chains function, they are designed in the event of hitch failure, ball or broken fasteners occurs.They are designed to keep the trailer somewhat straight following the toe vehicle.
One day when I was in a campground and was talking to a man who was hooking up his camper I noticed that he had very, very flimsy S hooks on his safety chains.When I asked him about whether they would do the job of keeping his RV attached to his truck. He replied that if hitch failed and If safety chains were real heavy and anchored to his truck It could turn his truck over maybe causing him or his wife to die.His thought was if hitch fails he wanted to be as far away from trailer as possible. I'm not agreeing with his logic but could see that happening.
DevilDog

 

[radioman]

Stainless break away cable is the way to go, no coating required. As far as the safety chains function, they are designed in the event of hitch failure, ball or broken fasteners occurs.They are designed to keep the trailer somewhat straight following the toe vehicle.
One day when I was in a campground and was talking to a man who was hooking up his camper I noticed that he had very, very flimsy S hooks on his safety chains.When I asked him about whether they would do the job of keeping his RV attached to his truck. He replied that if hitch failed and If safety chains were real heavy and anchored to his truck It could turn his truck over maybe causing him or his wife to die.His thought was if hitch fails he wanted to be as far away from trailer as possible. I'm not agreeing with his logic but could see that happening.
DevilDog

I agree that stainless is way to go, but trailer manufacters are cheap and use the plastic coating ones. as skyco says- be fined for simple cracked cable? If it was badly cracked with corrosion, I'd understand, but just cracked and no warning. Sounds like something else went wrong so the trooper is being hard nosed.

devildog- I find it hard to beleive that a proper length chains on trailer would overturn a vehicle. I'd say he is in more of a risk of hurting someone when trailer comes off and not secured and be sued for it.

 

[ModMech]

The provision to "lock" the trailer wheels is to prevent from moving a stopped trailer, not to cause the skidding of a rolling wheel.

Time requirements vary from state to state from no specified time to 15 minutes. During inspections we were counseled to use the 2 minute specification because there was no legally mandated time.

The single biggest arguement always came from the definition of "frame" relating to safety chains and break-away connections. My feeling is, if the attachment location is not part of the vehicle as-built, it's not a frame, Even this get's very sticky with the addition of "pull plates" on dump type trucks. Technically the pull plate is not a frame member at all, but there is no other location for safety chain connections.

 

[devildog1]

Hey radioman,
Ya know two years ago we were camping up at Lake George at Rogers Rock campground. The Couple that we got to know over the years were towing their 29' Travel Trailer home to White Plains N.Y. They had a new Trailer and a brand new2500 GMC Suburban with factory installed towing equipment.Somewhere on the Northway, their hitch came un-bolted! When I was talking to the fellow he said that the safety chains held and it flipped his 3/4 ton Suburban over like it wasn't even there. His wife and both son and daughter were with him. Lucky they were all buckled in and only suffered some bumps and bruises. Totally destroyed the Suburban and new Trailer.I know he had a suit against GM, don't know details but next year he was back with a New Suburban and new Arctic Fox Trailer.
DevilDog

 

[FlaDon]

The provision to "lock" the trailer wheels is to prevent from moving a stopped trailer, not to cause the skidding of a rolling wheel.

Time requirements vary from state to state from no specified time to 15 minutes. During inspections we were counseled to use the 2 minute specification because there was no legally mandated time.

The single biggest arguement always came from the definition of "frame" relating to safety chains and break-away connections. My feeling is, if the attachment location is not part of the vehicle as-built, it's not a frame, Even this get's very sticky with the addition of "pull plates" on dump type trucks. Technically the pull plate is not a frame member at all, but there is no other location for safety chain connections.

Stopping is 40 ft from 20 MPH with all brakes applied.

Here's the Fed Law from 49 CFR 393.43 which is where the breakaway requirement comes from.

(d) Breakaway braking requirements for trailers. Every trailer required to be equipped with brakes shall have brakes which apply automatically and immediately upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. With the exception of trailers having three or more axles, all brakes with which the trailer is required to be equipped must be applied upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. The brakes must remain in the applied position for at least 15 minutes.

 

[radioman]

Hey radioman,
Ya know two years ago we were camping up at Lake George at Rogers Rock campground. The Couple that we got to know over the years were towing their 29' Travel Trailer home to White Plains N.Y. They had a new Trailer and a brand new2500 GMC Suburban with factory installed towing equipment.Somewhere on the Northway, their hitch came un-bolted! When I was talking to the fellow he said that the safety chains held and it flipped his 3/4 ton Suburban over like it wasn't even there. His wife and both son and daughter were with him. Lucky they were all buckled in and only suffered some bumps and bruises. Totally destroyed the Suburban and new Trailer.I know he had a suit against GM, don't know details but next year he was back with a New Suburban and new Arctic Fox Trailer.
DevilDog

on flat ground ? this scenerio sounds bad- but something is not right here ? you said new truck and new trailer, sounds like inexperience to me.

 

[ModMech]

FlaDon,

No arguement, but there is a difference in the CFRs from CMVs to nonCMV braking requirements. For non-CMVs, the requirements are mostly left up to the individual states because the ICC could not regulate IntRAstate regulations. There is often cross-talk between CMV and non requirements, so it's important to read the whole section to understand if the regulations apply to both CMV and non vehicle types.

When the regulations say "lock", in terms of break-away, they mean simply that the brakes must fully apply, not that the tire must skid. That's all I was tyring to convey.

 

[devildog1]

From what gentleman told me, the bolts that held the Class V were either loose or some were missing. Maybe during the manufacturing someone forgot? Gentleman very much experienced, towed trailer then went back home for boat for 25 + years. Can't get too much more experienced then that can you? Maybe the people working on assembly line were new-B's.
DevilDog

 

[Diamondpilot]

Stopping is 40 ft from 20 MPH with all brakes applied.

Here's the Fed Law from 49 CFR 393.43 which is where the breakaway requirement comes from.

You are spot on Don. That is how I always heard the law was written.

Chris

 

[mustangsallysdad]

I have a friend who is in commercial enforcement for the Virginia State Police...his advice, as far as his circle of fellow officers anyway, he can tell at a glance which towing combos are suspect...pride of ownership makes a big difference...rattletraps and contractors with stuff all thrown about and not properly secured will garner a second look...if the load appears well contained or restrained, everything is neat and tidy and the chains are crossed and the breakaway cable "connected to the tow vehicle" he can assume the tower is fairly responsible and mindful of what he is doing. As long as the trailer isn't "wagging the dog" and proper traffic spacing is allowed and no frequent lane changing, you will probably only get that first initial glance at the vitals. Non functional lighting will get you everytime. Said that there are so many variables when it comes to the legality of tow packages it often comes down to a judgement call...bottom line, use common sense. As far as the breakaway cable itself, he said if it is mechanically sound and connected to the tow vehicle independent of the chains it is good...said a lot of people wrap it around the chains and terminate at the end of the hook which will not activate the system in a connection failure.